Editing Fritz Walter (section)

===Early club career===
Born on 31 October 1920, Walter was exposed to football early with his parents, Ludwig (1894–1976) and Dorothea Walter ([[birth name|née]] Kieburg; 1896–1978), working at the [[1. FC Kaiserslautern]] club restaurant.<ref name="fritz-walter-museum">{{cite web|url=https://www.initiative-fritz-walter-museum.de/erinnerungen/2021/007-dorothea-walter/|title=Die Mutter der Weltmeister—Zum 125. Geburtstag von Dorothea Walter|date=7 February 2021|publisher=Fritz Walter Museum|access-date=23 December 2023}}</ref> By 1928 he had joined the Kaiserslautern youth academy, and he made his first team debut at 17, continuing an association with the club that would be his only professional club.<ref name="uefa1">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/organisation/history/obituaries/newsid=26646.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024133534/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/aboutuefa/organisation/history/obituaries/newsid=26646.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 October 2012|title=Tributes for the 'Hero of Berne'|date=18 June 2002|publisher=UEFA|access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="fifaclassicplayer1">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=44747/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228024644/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/players/player=44747/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=28 February 2008|title=Fritz WALTER – Germany's post-war hero|work=FIFA Classic Player|publisher=FIFA|access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref><ref name="ContiSoccerWorld1">{{cite web|url=http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/contisoccerworld/themes/02_fanzone/04_stars/1954-walter-en.html|title=FIFA World Cup Star 1954: Fritz Walter|work=ContiSoccerWorld|publisher=Continental|access-date=5 July 2010}}</ref>

International pro teams had repeatedly offered him hefty sums, but with support from his wife always declined in order to stay at home, to play for his home town, the national team and "Chef" (German for "Boss") Herberger.